US PGA Tour denies Johnson suspension

AKRON, Ohio - The US PGA Tour has released a statement claiming Dustin Johnson is not under official suspension for drug violations as claimed by Sports Illustrated on Friday.

In the murky world of the Tour's policies on suspensions, the clarification does not clear Johnson of drug use, only rather saying they have not suspended the American star who voluntarily walked away from the game.

"With regards to media reports that Dustin Johnson has been suspended by the PGA Tour, this is to clarify that Mr. Johnson has taken a voluntary leave of absence and is not under a suspension from the PGA tour," the statement said.

Earlier Sports Illustrated, through a story on its website golf.com, claimed Johnson was suspended for six months after testing positive to cocaine.

The magazine says Johnson has now failed three drug tests, one for marijuana in 2009 and two for cocaine, in 2012 and 2014.

The Tour's comment does not refute the positive test claims, only that of the latest suspension.

As a general rule the Tour does not make any disciplinary issues public, although it is always up to the commissioner should he choose to do so.